Smelting-furnace.



K. O E. OLAUSSON.

SMELTINC- FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1911.

1,081,912, Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Witnesses:

Wan L per Attorney.

' 71/ I A4 g n'uentor:

y UNITED STATES PATENT oFFioE.

KARL OSKAR ERNrRrn OLAUSSON, or TnoLLHA'r'rAN, swnnnn, ass'rqnon T0 TROLL- Hlirrans ELEKTROTHERMISKA AIKTIEBOLAGQYOF STOCKHOLM', SWEDEN.

SMELTING FURNA CE.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec; 16, 1913 Application filed September 6, 1911. Serial No.647.898

To and-710m it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL Osnan ERNFRID OLAUSSON, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Trollhiittan, in the Kingdom of Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in smelting-Frirnaces, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to a furnace especially designed for smelting and reducing zinc and lead ores, and is characterized by the fact that the condensable gases are separated from the non-condensable gases owing to the difference in their specific weights, in condensing chambers arranged oustide the smelting chamber and communicating with the same or with the shaft, in such a manner that the condensable gases sink to the bottom of the condensing.

chamber and are condensed, while the noncondensable gases escape through the furnace shaft. A The accompanying drawing showsin vertical section an electric zinc furnace according to the presentinvention.

The furnace consists of a smelting chamber 71. the upper portion of which forms the shaft Z). The electric current is supplied to the charge, introduced in the sir-siting furnace, through the electrodes a, ent ring the charge through the furnace walls or through the shaft. Part of the zinc-gases evolved during the reducing process, rises in the shaft, whereupon the zinc is condensed and again descends together with the charge and is again volatilized thereby enriching the mix'ture'of zinc vapors and carbon monoxid in the reduction chamber.

Outlets cl are provided in the furnace walls through which the/zinc gases and part of the carbon dioxid evolved during the reduction process escape to the condensing chamber e which as shown on the drawing is downwardly inclined. The bottom of said condensing chamber forms a liquid seal 9 comprising with the wall f a completely in closed space whereby the condensing chamber is shut off from the atmosphere. The said outlet-s (Z are preferably upwardly direc-ted so as to prevent the charge from entering the condensing chamber. lVhen the mixtureof zine vapors and carbon monoxid has been enriched with zinc vapor as above described the mixture becomes heavy and does not follow the draft in the shaft 0 but enters the condensing chamber through the openings (1. Owing to their gravity the zinc gases sink to the bottom of the condensing chamber, while the lighter carbon monoxid follows the draft in the shaft 7) and escapes through the furnace shaft. The zinc is condensed and by reason of the fact that the gas outlet is is shut off by the liquid seal all the non-condensable gases escape through the shaft 6.

\Vhat I'claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 2' 1. In an electric: furnace in combination with the smelting chamber, electrodes for supplying an electric current to the charge within the said smelting chamber. a condensing chamber arranged'outside the furnace, and a single means for conducting gases, evolved during the reduction of the ore, to the condensing chamber, in which the condensable gases are separated from the noncondensable gases owing to the difference in their specific weights, and reconducting non condensable gases from the condensing chamber to the furnace.

2. In an electric furnace in combination with-the smelting chamber, the upper portion of which forms the shaft, electrodesfor supplying an electric current to the charge within the said smelting chambers, a liquid sealed condensing chamber arranged outside the furnace and a single means for conducting gases, evolved during the reduction of the ore to the condensing chamber, in which the condensable gases are separated from the non-condensable gases owing to the difference in their specific weights, and reconducting non-condensable gases from the condens-' ing chamber to the furnace.

3. In an electric furnace in combination with the smelting chamber the upper portion of which forms the'shaft electrode for supplying an electric current to the charge within the said smelting chamber a liquid sealed condensing chamber, arranged outside the furnace and extending in a downwardly inclined direction from the smelting chamher, and a single means for conducting gases,

In testimony wl'zereof-I afiix my signaetuc in presence of two witnesses. I 1

KARL USKAR ERNFRID OLA'USSGN" \Vitnesses: R. NILSON, H. TILLBERG.

evolved during the reduction of the ore, to the condensing"chambel in which the con- Ctensmble gases are separated from the noncwndensable gases owing to the difference in 5 their specific weights and for re-conducting mm-cnndensable gases from the condensing chamber to the furnace. 

